Thunderbolt's Birth & Parents


John Haswell was born in Islington, Middlesex, England in 1808. He was arrested in 1827 for stealing a watch and found guilty at the Middlesex court on the 31st May 1827 and was sentenced to life. He was sent to Australia on the ship "Florentia" arriving in January, 1828 and was assigned to William Everingham at Sackville near Windsor NSW. This property was near the property where Michael & Sophia Ward lived. There he met Sarah Ann Ward and formed an alliance at the beginning of 1830's when she was only 16 years old.

He and Sarah applied for Banns of marriage on 16th July 1832 at Wilberforce, however his name was spelt incorrectly by the minister Rev M D Meares as “John Aswell” so the permission was refused, as there was no such name on the Muster. This was probably caused by John dropping his “H” when speaking

On the 31 st August, 1832 they reapplied and submitted a letter from Sarah's father Michael, giving her permission to marry as she was only 16 years old. The consent of John Haswell's master, William Everingham, was also forwarded with the application. The second application was submitted at Pitt Town.

Permission for this marriage was refused -- by the authorities on the 27th of Sept 1832 on the grounds "that as Sarah was unemployed and John was not even in receipt of a wage - with no income how were they going to support themselves ?" ...... so the marriage was refused.

Personal note:- (Which in effect, virtully implied that as Sarah was still living with her parents and that John was not yet entitled to a "Ticket of leave" there was no - way they possibly could earn enough money to be self supporting..... so the marriage was refused.)

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   To the Rev M. D. Meares

This is to certify that my assigned servant John Haswell during the period he has been in my service has conducted himself with property and I have no objection to his being married.

sig'd. ...William Everingham.

July 1832...Sackville Reach.

Lower Portland Head.

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To the Rev M-D-Meares

Wiberforce July 14th, 1832

Dear Sir,
I hearby give my consent for my daughter Sarah Ann Ward to be married to John Haswell of the district of Lower Portland Head.

I am
Rev Sir
Your most humble
Servant
Michael Ward



(The above is from information and documents held by the Archive office of NSW REF No : 4/2151.2 accessed on the 16, Feb 1991 supplied to me by F King, GGGrandson of John Haswell on the 7th November 2007)

On the 16th May 1833 Frederick Wordsworth Ward was born. The year 1833 is in agreement with his daughter Marina Emily's birth certificate in 1861, which shows Frederick as then being 28 years old. This makes it impossible for him to be to be the child of Sophia Ward as she had the birth of a daughter Harriet born April 1833, making it impossible for Frederick to be her child.
The Haswell family have always believed he was the son of their GGGrandfather, John Haswell and Sarah Ann Ward. The date of birth certainly fits in with their decision to marry in 1832. Subsequent events in the life of Frederick Ward and Sarah Ann Ward points to this relationship being so much closer than a brother/sister relationship, even though Frederick Ward was reared by Sarah's parents, Michael & Sophia Ward.

The Intended Marriage of John Haswell and Sara Ann Ward, via the two Bann's applications submitted 1st - on 16th of July 1832...2nd - on 31st of August 1832 was rejected despite the permission being granted by both Sarah's father Michael Ward and John Haswell's convict master, William Everingham, as was required by the law.

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JOHN HASWELL, theft : specified place, 31st May, 1827.

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t18270531-12

Trial Summary:

Original Text:

SECOND DAY. FRIDAY, JUNE 1.

Second Middlesex Jury - Before Mr. Sergeant Arabin.

1024. JOHN HASWELL was indicted for feloniously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of John Thompson , about seven o'clock in the forenoon of the 14th of April, at St. Mary, Islington (the said John Thompson, and others being therein), and stealing 1 watch, value 10l.; 1 seal, value 1l., and 1 watch-key, value 19s. , the goods of the said John Thompson.

JOHN THOMPSON. I live at No. 12, Portland-place, New North-road, in the parish of St. Mary, Islington. On the 14th of April, between six and seven o'clock in the morning, I was at home, and up; my wife, children, and servant were in the house - I heard the bell ring; I looked out, and saw two persons, dressed as sweeps, but cannot say whether the prisoner is either of them: a watch was lost, which I could not replace for less than 15l.

ELIZABETH BAKER . I am servant to Mr. Thompson. On the 14th of April, between six and seven o'clock in the morning, the sweeps rang at the bell - I did not expect them, and they were strangers; I opened the street door to them; the prisoner was one of them I am certain - they were both dressed as sweeps; his companion said he was desired to call and sweep a flue, which leads from the oven into the kitchen chimney, which the boy had forgotten to sweep six weeks ago when they swept the chimney; I said I was sure he was mistaken; he said, No, his master had desired him to come - I said, "Who is your master?" he said, "Mr. Shipley of Broad-yard" - I let his companion in; he came down into the kitchen, and began to sweep the flue; the prisoner did not come in with him, but walked down the street; about five minutes after the prisoner came up the steps, and knocked at the door - I went up to the door, leaving his companion sweeping the flue in the kitchen; the prisoner came down stairs: the other said, "Here Jack, take the brush and sweep;" he did so, and the other took up the soot, and then said,"Now, will you be so kind as to let us out?" the other put the soot into the yard, and went up-stairs before me; I followed him, and the prisoner followed behind me - I had left him in the kitchen; he followed me directly, but when he got to the kitchen door he closed it - I had got out, and he being inside, I turned back, saying, "What do you mean by this?" and pushed the door open; he said, "Nothing, Ma'am;" it must have been done on purpose - I immediately said, "Please to deliver up the silver spoon, which you have taken off that dresser." as I missed it; he looked at me, and without saying a word, delivered the spoon from his bosom; the other came down stairs, and said, "What is the matter?" I said,"Why this fellow has taken a spoon off the dresser;" he said, "Jack, you ought to be ashamed of yourself; don't you know better, you may rely on it, I shall tell your master" - I said, "You need not trouble yourself, I will do that;" I then let them both out of the house, and when they had been gone about five minutes, my master asked me what the time was - I went down into the kitchen, and missed the watch, which hung over the dresser just before they came in - I had hung it there that morning; it was mistress', and has never been found; one of them must have taken it: it was worth full 10l. - I told master I had let the sweeps in, and instantly went to Mr. Shipley - the prisoner was brought to me on the 22d - I had described his person to the officer - I swear positively he is the man who had the spoon - I should not have let them in if I had not believed they came from Shipley.

EDWARD SHIPLEY. I am a chimney-sweep, and live at Islington. I know nothing of the prisoner, and never sent him to Mr. Thompson.

THOMAS JEFFERY. On the 14th of April, I was near Portland-place, twelve doors from Mr. Thompson's, andsaw two sweeps run down the road from the house - I believe the prisoner to be one of them.

SARAH LANGLEY. I live at No. 15, Portland-place. On the 14th of April, between six and seven o'clock in the morning, the prisoner came to my house, dressed as a sweep; he rang the bell, and said he was ordered to come to sweep the flue - I told him it was a mistake; he said it was not, but I would not let him in, and he went to Mr. Thompson's - I am sure he is the man.

WILLIAM PIZEY . I am an officer. I apprehended the prisoner on the 22d of April, at the corner of Frying-pan-alley, Turnmill-street - Baker had described him to me, and identified him immediately she saw him.

Prisoners defence. She stated before, that I was the lad who went to the house first, and was there ten minutes before the other came, and she took the spoon out of his bosom..

GUILTY - DEATH . Aged 20.

Link to the original Article.

Original page image, Old Bailey Proceedings, 31st May, 1827 image number 0010.


 

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